A Liquid Inspiration
Summary: (A re-telling of Classroom of the Elite sparked by a certain conversation between Masterpiece and Professor.)
One day, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka receives a surprising invitation from his father, Ayanokouji Atsuomi, to join him for a drink. It was unusual for Kiyotaka, who normally wouldn't be summoned by his father without a hidden agenda.
That's why even the emotionless Kiyotaka was surprised when his father began to open up about his own experiences with love and relationships.
For the emotionally distant "masterpiece," this conversation is a rare moment of connection with his father, and it sparked a curiosity within him to explore the world of human relationships, to be more specific: romance and intimacy.
It was that spark that pushed Kiyotaka to demand something from his father:
"Father, teach me everything about human relationships."
This then begins a ripple that changes how Ayanokouji Kiyotaka would approach the world in the foreseeable future.
Do check out this fic on Wattpad. It has the same title and content, but we do have illustrations there to increase immersion for the fic. Thanks, and here's the chapter!
Vol 1. Chapter 14 - Deceit, New Allies, and Friendships
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka
After we finished our plan, the three of us left my dorm room and began making our way to the classroom. The atmosphere was unusually quiet and somber, a far cry from our regular morning walks filled with Yuki and Chiaki's playful banter.
This change in mood was intentional.
I knew Yuki well enough to predict her next move once we entered the classroom—taunting Kushida. I couldn't let Yuki's reckless nature jeopardize our plan by provoking Kushida and further triggering her new trauma.
That's why I had made a point to dampen Yuki's spirits during breakfast, using what Chiaki had told me last night and expressing my disappointment in her for not being entirely honest with me.
Doing this had a two-fold purpose.
Aside from keeping Yuki in line, it would also lead her to reflect on our relationship and the things that she simply cannot get away with.
If there was one thing I learned from Horikita and Horikita-senpai, it was that nothing good came out of keeping your intrusive thoughts from someone who mattered to you.
That said, I could have easily done this last night, but I figured that holding back until an opportune moment presented itself would make the blow heavier.
But I suppose Yuki had gotten enough introspection about what she had done, so it was now time to hand her a carrot.
"If you promise not to bother Kushida in class, I'll kiss you," I casually told Yuki, causing her to blush.
"R-Really? You'll... you'll actually initiate it yourself? On the lips, right?"
Yuki's rapid-fire questions made me shake my head, amused. Of course, I could have simply dangled this carrot in front of her from the beginning, but I wanted her to understand and truly feel my disappointment first.
Mission accomplished, it seemed.
Yuki now grasped what I expected of her, and I had managed to reinforce in her mind the importance of never lying to me again. This was made easier knowing how much she still relied on me for validation and support.
If she did anything that displeased me, her immediate reaction would be to vow never to do it again.
Yuki's words last night then rang inside my head:
"The more things change, the more they stay the same, huh?"
I suppose that was true.
"You're so easy to manipulate, Yuki-chan," Chiaki remarked dryly, shaking her head.
"Who's getting kisses between the two of us?" Yuki retorted smugly, causing Chiaki to huff in annoyance.
Another day in the office, I guess.
With the mood lightened, we engaged in casual conversation that eventually led to Yuki joking about how Kushida might behave in class...
"I wonder if she can keep up the act when we get to class. Will she freeze at the sight of me?" Yuki mused, resting her chin on her index finger as we walked.
Her twisted sense of humor was something else.
And... she was probably the last person who should joke about people shaking in fear due to trauma, considering how she reacted when we reunited over a year ago.
"You're probably the last person who should joke about that, Yuki-chan," Chiaki echoed my thoughts.
Well, at least I didn't have to say it myself.
"Hey! My situation was different!" Yuki protested, pouting.
"Just act naturally, Yuki. Remember my incentive," I paused, looking at Yuki. "I'll only kiss you if you won't bother Kushida."
"I sit in front of her, so it's impossible for her not to see me," Yuki countered, pouting. "Regardless of whether or not I do something, she'd still react."
Good point.
"Ah... that's true. Just don't taunt Kushida, I guess," I replied, shrugging. "That said, do you think she bought your act, Chiaki?"
Chiaki considered this for a moment. "Hmm... probably," she responded. "But if she didn't, I'm pretty sure there are doubts in her mind about whether I was just a pawn or an actual enemy."
"That's good enough."
With that settled, the three of us continued walking down the hallway, our footsteps echoing in unison as we joined the flow of students.
As we approached the classroom, the door stood ajar, revealing a snapshot of the typical morning scene. Students chattered away, animated by the excitement of a new day. The morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting an inviting golden glow over the desks and chairs.
As we stepped into the classroom, the chatter subsided slightly as our classmates began to greet us—a routine in the newly-Christened Class B due to our status within the class and overall likeability...
Or I'd like to assume that was the case.
Upon seeing us, Kushida's eyes widened momentarily, but she quickly regained her composure, leaving only Yuki and me to catch a glimpse of her vulnerability.
"Good morning, Ayanokōji-kun, Matsushita-san, Yuki-chan!" She greeted us with a wave.
Huh, so Kushida can still do that much?
Color me impressed.
It would seem that Chiaki did a better job than I even anticipated, as Kushida did not immediately go on a full-blown panic attack upon seeing Yuki.
While, of course, there were some chinks in Kushida's armor, such as her widened eyes and her noticeably ragged breath, she was able to keep herself together for the most part.
"Good morning, Kikyō-chan!" Yuki greeted back with a warm smile, while Chiaki and I only offered nods in acknowledgment.
"Are you ready for later?" Yuki asked Kushida, maintaining her friendly demeanor.
Kushida hesitated momentarily before answering, trying to mask the unease that flickered across her face. "Yes, let's do our best, Yuki-chan!"
Chiaki and I shared a look, silently evaluating Yuki and Kushida's interaction. I could tell that Yuki was holding back, carefully keeping her subtle taunts in check.
Offering up my kiss really was a powerful incentive, huh?
"At least she held herself back," Chiaki pointed out, sighing. "You're really spoiling her with kisses, Kiyotaka-kun. I also did good, you know?"
"Don't worry. You'll get yours too."
"You mean it? Really?"
You're a beautiful girl, Chiaki, so of course, I meant it.
"Really," I reassured.
Chiaki smiled, her eyes sparkling as she stepped a little closer to me. "Then I'll hold you to that promise, Kiyotaka-kun," she said, her voice soft and teasing.
Yuki probably heard our conversation as she was glaring at me and held out two fingers, a telling sign that she wanted two kisses.
Well, I'm a gentleman, so I'm giving her just that.
Scanning the rest of the classroom, my eyes met those of Kōenji's, and the blonde-haired menace gave me a proud look, probably thinking that I had decided to follow his ways.
Not happening, Kōenji.
I'm simply using their desires to my advantage... yes, that's exactly it.
"We're getting too much attention already. Let's go to our seats, Chiaki," I said to the brown-haired girl, who simply nodded, and we made our way to our respective seats.
As I settled into my own seat, I immediately caught the look Horikita had been sending me, probably a byproduct of recalling the words I spoke to her last night.
I suppose I shouldn't make fun of her...
For today, that is.
"Good morning, Horikita."
"Good morning, Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita replied coolly, diverting her eyes to a notebook that, upon closer inspection, looked like it contained guides on how to be a good teacher.
Horikita had become quite self-aware over the past month, hadn't she?
After all, some members of her study group, such as Okitani and Nishimura, mentioned that she could be a bit strict as a teacher and sometimes became impatient when they struggled with certain concepts.
I have to say that I'm happy with this development.
"You must be getting attached to your study group," I pointed out, leading to Horikita closing her notebook and glaring at me.
"That's ridiculous. Of course not. I'm simply making sure that I can reach them properly," she replied with a hint of annoyance. "Don't make jokes like that, Ayanokōji-kun."
"It's not like there's anything particularly wrong with wanting your students to be better versions of themselves," I countered. "You're such a tsundere, Horikita."
"You don't even know what that word means."
"Ah, true. Ike simply said you feel like one."
"And listening to someone like him is not a good idea."
Fair point.
I didn't push the conversation further, instead opting to think about what came next after the plan to expel four second-year students.
From what I had gathered, Nagumo-senpai had succeeded in uniting the second years under his banner to the point that Class Battles were now moot at their year level.
Almost everyone had submitted to his rule, and those who hated his ideals... couldn't do anything about it, given none of them had substantial influence to even pose a challenge.
For the most part, everyone had accepted that this was the Nagumo Miyabi Show.
This was why my incoming attack, even though it only targeted Class D defects, would be seen as a huge deal by Nagumo-senpai's supporters, probably even planting doubts in their minds about whether or not he could actually save them.
After all, when you promise heaven to the people, their faith would easily be challenged once faced with a roadblock you couldn't lift them out of.
That being said, I had to make sure that Nagumo-senpai couldn't trace the attack to me.
And I just have the person in mind who could help me achieve just that.
Kiriyama Ikuto.
Kiriyama-senpai hailed from Class 2-B, serving as the leader of his class. Originally, he belonged in Class A, but their class lost out to Nagumo-senpai's Class 1-B, which led to their classes swapping ranks before the end of their first year.
He was also noted by Horikita-senpai to harbor hatred towards Nagumo-senpai for some reason.
His placement in a high class, as well as his hatred for Nagumo-senpai, made him the ideal ally to approach for my plan.
With this in mind, I pulled out my phone and composed a text message to Kiriyama-senpai, telling him a brief overview of what I had planned and asking if he would be interested in talking it over during lunchtime.
A few minutes later, a notification appeared on my phone. It was Kiriyama-senpai's reply.
[8:10:15 Kiriyama Ikuto] You're already making a move? Color me intrigued, Ayanokōji. Let's meet in the same spot. I'll bring another person with me. Would that be fine with you?
Another person?
[8:10:25] Why?
[8:10:35 Kiriyama Ikuto] She saw your text and demanded to tag along because she found it fascinating.
So I'm finally going to meet the bane of Kiriyama-senpai's existence, huh?
Haaah, you really should learn to be more discreet when reading messages, senpai. That's just careless.
[8:10:45] That could have been your chance to stand up to her and tell her no, you know? Didn't know you were a wuss.
[8:10:48 Kiriyama Ikuto] Fuck off, Ayanokōji.
[8:10:54] Don't be like that. See you later, senpai.
As I pondered the various elements of my plan, I couldn't help but appreciate the subtle intricacies that would make it particularly effective.
Aside from utilizing Kiriyama-senpai as an ideal smokescreen that would hide my identity as Nagumo-senpai's attacker for the time being, this move also had another purpose: To see if there was actually worth to him or if he was a weakling that would crumble upon the realization of an inevitable defeat.
Should he pass the test, then this would give me a strong ally to fend off whatever it was that Nagumo-senpai would eventually plan... and if he failed?
I would personally get rid of him.
Well, Nagumo Miyabi wasn't dumb, and in time, he would eventually figure out that I was the mastermind behind the scheme that had begun sowing discontent within the second years and not Kiriyama Ikuto.
But it wasn't like I was planning to hide forever.
I simply want a couple more months to build up my armory, so to speak, and loosen Nagumo-senpai's guard by a little bit.
Nagumo-senpai's words from yesterday rang in my ear:
"By the way, it'd be best for you to be on the winning side, Ayanokōji. You're smart. You know what decision to make. Time, after all, is in your hands."
You're right, senpai.
Time was in my hands, and once you realized that I was behind the attacks that you would eventually suffer from, it'd be too late for you to do something about it.
Using myself as a Trojan Horse, huh?
What an unironically funny thought.
"You seem deep in thought."
I was interrupted in my musing when Horikita's voice reached my ears. Turning my head to the dark-haired girl, she still had her usual cold, impassive face, but I could tell that beneath the icy exterior, she was curious about what was in my mind.
"You really like staring at me, don't you, Horikita?"
"You're insufferable."
"Don't be like that. I know you like me."
Horikita didn't bother responding. Instead, the girl turned her head away from me and returned to reading her notes.
That, my friends, was a masterclass on neutralizing a curious Horikita.
14.1
As the minutes ticked by, the class slowly settled into a state of quiet anticipation, my classmates waiting for Chabashira-sensei to arrive and start the lesson.
The bell chimed, signaling the start of class, and the door burst open, shattering the quiet. Chabashira-sensei entered, her stern expression and aloof demeanor unchanged. She strode to the front of the classroom, her presence commanding attention.
"Good morning, everyone," she greeted us. "Before we begin today's lesson, I have an important announcement."
Chabashira-sensei surveyed the class with a critical eye, then spoke once again. "The topics for the upcoming midterm examination have been changed. You have two weeks to adjust to these modifications. That's all."
I raised an eyebrow at that.
Following Chabashira-sensei's announcement, the class descended into a hushed murmur as everyone began to process the news. A few students wore expressions of concern, while others seemed unperturbed by the change.
I leaned back in my chair, mulling over the implications of this revelation.
"So that's what that was all about," I murmured, catching Horikita's attention.
"What do you mean, Ayanokōji-kun?" she inquired, her brow furrowed.
"I can say for certain that there's a way for you guys to get through this without anyone failing. Do those words ring a bell, Horikita?"
"Chabashira-sensei said that when she announced the midterm examinations. Why do you ask?"
"Hm... nothing," I responded, idly observing our classmates' reactions. "Just something to consider, Horikita."
"Why not just tell me?" she pressed.
"Because I'm not certain yet," I admitted, locking eyes with her. "I'll let you know once I've figured it out. We have time, after all."
"Please do, Ayanokōji-kun," Horikita replied. "And don't leave anything out when you do."
Well, I pretty much had a theory in mind, but I'm still not completely certain if that was right. For now, it was just a string of conjectures.
Let's put things into perspective:
On May 1st, Chabashira-sensei announced that a student could be expelled from the school after failing one subject on an examination, information that shocked the class, considering how the Japanese educational system generally provides students with another chance to prove themselves.
In ANHS, this wasn't the case.
Chabashira-sensei also knew that several students struggled academically, such as Ike, Yamauchi, and Ken, prior to my tutoring.
A conventional teacher might have encouraged classmates to support struggling students to avoid expulsion, but Chabashira-sensei wasn't that type of teacher.
Instead, Chabashira-sensei offered a cryptic message:
"I can say for certain that there's a way for you guys to get through this without anyone failing."
I didn't realize it then, but that was most likely Chabashira-sensei's way of telling us to dig deeper and find a way to make sure that even academically inept students managed to survive... and perhaps, the key to that came in the form of our mock test.
After all, the test was weird by itself, as instead of covering what we had discussed in our first three weeks in school, the test was composed of junior-high-level questions.
Then came the last page, which was a drastic mismatch to the previous questions in terms of difficulty. In fact, first-year students had no business answering the last three questions, which seemed to be taken from the second and third-year curriculums.
But with how this school operated, I wouldn't be surprised if their placement in the mock test was intentional.
And then it hit me...
There was a way that served not just to ensure everyone passed the exams but also serve as a way to ensure that our class yielded the highest scores in the upcoming examinations.
Thinking outside the box really was this school's favorite metaphor, wasn't it?
What a weird school.
14.2
The bell rang once more, signaling the end of class and the beginning of lunchtime. I gathered my things and stood up, glancing around the room as my classmates dispersed, each heading to their preferred lunch spots.
I informed Yuki, Chiaki, and the others in advance that I wouldn't be joining them for lunch as I had urgent things to deal with.
Yuki and Chiaki figured that it had something to do with what we had planned, so they didn't press me about it, while the others simply took me for my word.
With that out of the way, I headed toward the rooftop of one of the school buildings. There was no reason that anyone should be up here during that time except for some kind of secret meeting, which is why Kiriyama-senpai and I would meet up here when we felt the need to do so.
Ah, that's right.
That brought back memories of when Kiriyama-senpai and I first met, an encounter orchestrated by Horikita-senpai. In his words, it was to provide me with an additional ally from the second-year students.
Initially, Kiriyama-senpai wasn't too keen on the idea, finding it somewhat humiliating to seek assistance from a first-year student in order to bring down Nagumo-senpai. However, his admiration for Horikita-senpai swayed him to give it a chance and see if I was someone worth following.
It was a rather arrogant standpoint, but I could understand his perspective.
After all, he had been attending this school longer than I had and was more knowledgeable about the system. And yet, he was expected to follow the lead of a freshman who had only been at ANHS for a mere month.
But with this meeting, I'm sure I will get the willing support of Kiriyama Ikuto.
Upon reaching the rooftop, I took a moment to appreciate the view. The school buildings stretched out below, students hurrying to enjoy their lunch breaks. The sky above was clear and blue, the sun casting a warm glow over the scene.
Just as I was admiring the view, I heard footsteps approaching from behind. I turned around to see Kiriyama-senpai, who had arrived just in time for our meeting.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Vice President Ayanokōji," he said, offering a small bow.
I shook my head, indicating that it was no big deal. "It's all right, Kiriyama-senpai. I just got here myself," I replied.
"I'd still like to apologize. I would have gotten here sooner if not for—"
"Kiriyama."
While Kiriyama-senpai and I were exchanging pleasantries, an elegant-sounding voice called him out from behind the door.
Although Kiriyama-senpai's name was called specifically, he didn't seem to react to it right away, aside from his eyes twitching in annoyance.
I raised an eyebrow, curious about who the voice belonged to. Kiriyama-senpai looked visibly annoyed as he turned towards the door, clearly not pleased with the interruption.
"Can you at least let me finish before you interrupt, Kiryūin?" Kiriyama-senpai spoke in annoyance.
A melodic chuckle then made itself known before the door opened, revealing a beautiful platinum-blonde-haired girl with crimson eyes.
This was the woman that Kiriyama-senpai dubbed to be the bane of his existence: Kiryūin Fūka.
"Well, I can't have you badmouthing me in front of our Student Council Vice President, now can I, Kiriyama?" Kiryūin Fūka said with a sly grin, her voice dripping with honeyed words.
Kiriyama-senpai rolled his eyes in response, clearly exasperated by her antics.
"How annoying. Can you just behave and go sit in a corner or something?"
"Fufu! Of course, you'd know a lot about behaving and sitting in a corner, Kiriyama, you neutered dog."
Kiriyama-senpai only gritted his teeth at Kiryūin-senpai's taunt. With how he reacted, it was safe to say that this wasn't the first time they had this kind of exchange.
"That's on you for carelessly letting other people see the texts you received, Kiriyama-senpai," I said dryly, leading the older boy to sigh in annoyance.
It wasn't like I was wrong, senpai.
After all, Kiryūin Fūka's interest wouldn't have even been piqued had you known how to keep yourself more discreet.
"A pleasure to meet you, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka-kun," the platinum-blonde-haired woman said, offering her hand after giving Kiriyama-senpai a dismissive glance.
Kiriyama-senpai... I can see why Horikita-senpai had low hopes for you.
A pleasure to meet you as well, Kiryūin-senpai," I replied, taking her hand with my own.
"Fūka."
"What?"
"Fūka. Call me Fūka."
Noticing Kiriyama-senpai's growing agitation, I decided to end this game early.
"Mhm, Conquest #6," I replied nonchalantly before turning to face Kiriyama-senpai, whose eyes were wide after hearing the crude way that I addressed Fūka. "I suppose we can get to business now, Kiriyama-senpai."
"Di-did you just call her Conquest #6?" Kiriyama-senpai asked incredulously.
"Yes, I did. It's a habit of mine to address people with a number that corresponds to their conquest in the dating sim game. Fūka is number six," I explained, my tone remaining indifferent.
Not really.
Kiryūin Fūka was not my type of woman, but I did find myself curious about how she would react, and it would seem like she was amused that I had the gall to even call her a conquest.
"HAHAHA! I'd like to see you try, Ayanokōji," Fūka said in amusement, a wide grin showing on her face.
Kiriyama-senpai let out a sigh. "That's... not a game you want to play, Ayanokōji," he muttered before we delved into the reason for our meeting.
With that, I began orienting Kiriyama-senpai on what we had planned out, from the four targets that we had identified to how we were planning to expel the targets.
"You seem to have everything figured out," Kiriyama-senpai said, his voice tinged with awe at the intricacies of the plot. "Where do I even fit in?"
"Simple," I replied, a faint smile beginning to form on my face. "I want someone who can take advantage of the inevitable fallout of what I was planning to do. It may just be four defects, but the reason why there hadn't been any sort of class conflicts between the second years is that the balance hadn't been disrupted yet, is it not?"
"I suppose I did say that," Kiriyama-senpai said, sighing. "But what's your game here, Ayanokōji?"
"I want to be Student Council President," I declared, shocking Kiriyama-senpai. "With you leading the frontcourt charge against Nagumo-senpai and me handling the backcourt charge, I believe that it would be possible for me to actually win the elections."
Kiriyama-senpai raised an eyebrow at my ambitious goal, clearly impressed but still unsure of what he had to gain from this arrangement.
Now, to seal the deal.
"You want to take Nagumo-senpai down, don't you?" I asked Kiriyama-senpai, noticing the flicker of anger in his eyes at the mention of Nagumo's name. "This is your chance to do just that."
With this, I have secured myself my "Promoted Queen," so to speak.
There were many reasons why I chose Kiriyama Ikuto to be my pawn in this plan. While his influence, reach, and hatred of Nagumo Miyabi would prove to be useful traits in ensuring that he actually fulfills his end of the bargain, those weren't the things that caught my eye.
It was his wounded pride and that single, burning ember of revenge in his eyes that made him the perfect choice.
Upon my few conversations with the black-haired boy, I could easily see how his inferiority against Nagumo-senpai ate him up. After all, Kiriyama-senpai was initially rated to belong in a class superior to that of Nagumo-senpai, and yet, he now stood in the vast shadows cast by his rival.
For a prideful man like Kiriyama Ikuto, this was simply unbearable.
However, he also knew to pick his battles, and with no clear opportunity for attack, he remained passive, which just led to Nagumo-senpai solidifying his control over their batch.
This is where I come in.
By offering the wounded animal, that was Kiriyama Ikuto, his first real chance to "attack" Nagumo Miyabi... the choice for the constantly defeated boy was obvious— to grab the opportunity.
I had masterfully dangled in front of him the opportunity to take down his fiercest rival and even provided him with the illusion of being my equal, someone who would play a pivotal role in helping me achieve my goal.
However, there was one thing that he completely failed to grasp: I did not see him as an equal at all.
He was just a means to buy time, a pawn to help me achieve my goal.
In truth, Kiriyama Ikuto was nothing more than a decoy... and it was surprisingly easy to convince him otherwise.
"I have to admit that your proposal sounds enticing, Ayanokōji. Nagumo... has been a thorn in my side for too long."
After remaining silent for almost a whole minute, Kiriyama-senpai let out a deep breath and spoke in a low voice that made his words sound more intense.
The atmosphere between us was tense, but it was also a sign of a more positive transition in this meeting.
"Then we're on the same page," I replied calmly. "Let's work together to bring him down."
Kiriyama-senpai looked at me, his expression inscrutable. After a brief pause, he spoke. "Alright. I'll help you."
A smile played at the corners of my lips. "Thank you, Kiriyama-senpai. I knew I could count on you," I said before offering my hand for a handshake.
Kiriyama-senpai shook my hand firmly, and I could feel the weight of his decision in the strength of his grip.
"However," Kiriyama-senpai added, his eyes locked on mine. "If I see that you're incapable of actually taking Nagumo down, I will no longer help you."
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Kiriyama-senpai," I replied with a nod, meeting his gaze confidently. "But I assure you, I won't disappoint."
"I suppose I should start doing my end of the bargain. I'll begin arranging what you need from me, Ayanokōji," Kiriyama-senpai said, giving me a small smile.
"Thank you, senpai."
As he began walking away, the older boy stopped in his tracks and spoke once again. "I can see why Horikita-senpai has high hopes for you."
With that, our meeting came to an end. Kiriyama-senpai left the rooftop, and to my surprise, Fūka did not follow him. Instead, the platinum-blonde-haired woman simply stared at me, a look of amusement gracing her beautiful features.
"Interesting," Fūka said, breaking the silence. "You've piqued my interest, Ayanokōji-kun."
"Kiyotaka."
Fūka laughed. "Ha! To think you'd play my game. Very well, Kiyotaka. Mhm-mm! You're so intriguing."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden change in tone. "Oh? How so?"
"To think it would be that easy for you to turn Kiriyama into your dog," Fūka said, her grin widening. "While Kiriyama's not impressive, he's incredibly prideful. For you to do what you did, turning his strength against him..."
Fūka took a step closer to me, allowing me to inhale her alluring scent. "I like that," she continued.
What a chaotic perspective you have there.
"You're definitely your mother's daughter, Fūka," I replied, stepping back. "But I'm afraid you're years away before you could even emulate her."
Her laughter filled the air, both melodic and confident. "Fūka? Have you given up on calling me Conquest #6?" She asked with a playful grin.
"That was simply to gauge your reaction," I replied, my tone measured and composed. "Besides, would you really like being anything but number 1?"
Fūka chuckled, her crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "Fu Fu! You say such fascinating things, Kiyotaka. I almost regret turning down that marriage proposal now."
Marriage proposal? What could she possibly mean by that?
"Oh? You weren't aware?" Fūka asked, her eyes narrowing as she noticed my confusion. "Your hand in marriage was offered to me over a year ago. I rejected the proposal, naturally. After all, I firmly believe that I alone should have the power to shape my own destiny."
I remained unfazed by her words, although I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the thought of being used as a bargaining chip for a political marriage.
Despite everything that I had experienced over the past 19 months, freedom truly was an illusion, wasn't it?
I suppose I should thank Fūka for ensuring that didn't happen.
As I contemplated these thoughts, Fūka's slender hand reached out to touch my cheek, pulling me back to the present.
"But who knows? I might actually ask for you to be my husband if you impressed me enough," she teased.
I gently pushed Fūka's hand away from my face, taking a step back. "I'm afraid I'm not interested in being anyone's husband at the moment, especially not in a political marriage," I replied calmly.
Fūka laughed heartily, undeterred by my rejection. "Oh well, it seemed like I did you a favor, then, didn't I?" She asked with a wink. "In any case, I'll be keeping an eye on you, Kiyotaka. You and your plans intrigue me."
"Is that so?" I said, giving her a small smile. "Well, if you play nice, I might give you a front-row seat in my schemes, Fūka."
Fūka laughed once more, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I look forward to it, Kiyotaka-kun. But don't expect me to play nice all the time," she warned before turning around and making her way off the rooftop.
So that was the woman who could have been my wife, huh?
Self-assured, beautiful, and undeniably intelligent, yet somewhat blinded by her own confidence.
She could pose a potential threat, but for now, I remained unimpressed.
14.3
I left the rooftop not long after Fūka left and began making my way to my classroom. As I turned to the corner, my eyes caught sight of Ichinose, her pink hair swaying gently with each step she took. She seemed to be in a hurry, probably trying to make it to her class before the bell rang.
But when she spotted me, her face lit up with a bright smile, and she immediately waved in my direction, her enthusiasm and energy seemingly endless.
"Hey, Ayanokōji-kun!" she called out, her voice ringing with genuine warmth. "How are you doing today?"
She's really a breath of fresh air in this treacherous school environment, isn't she?
"Much better now that I saw you, Ichinose. I'm starting to agree with Yuki about convincing you to transfer to our class," I joked.
Ichinose giggled at my comment, her cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "As much as I'd love to be in your class, I think I'll stick with mine for now. Besides, I wouldn't want to leave my friends behind."
"We're your friends too, you know?" I teased, a faint smile on my lips.
Ichinose smiled at me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Of course, you and Yuki-chan are my friends, Ayanokōji-kun. But you know what I mean."
"I do," I said, nodding in understanding. "That being said, can you tell Ryūji to drop by my dorm sometime? That guy is such a loner that he even forgets that he has friends."
Ichinose giggled, probably not used to Ryūji being addressed like I did. "I'll let him know, Ayanokōji-kun. And if he doesn't listen, I'll have Shibata-kun drag him... wait! Where's your dorm room again?"
"What a strange question, Ecchinose," I teased, a playful smile appearing on my face as I combined the Japanese word 'ecchi' with Ichinose's name. "Are you planning a surprise visit?"
Ichinose's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, and she looked flustered at my joking insinuation. "N-no! That's not what I meant, Ayanokōji-kun!" she stammered, waving her hands in front of her. "I just wanted to make sure I give Kanzaki-kun the right directions!"
I shook my head, amused by Ichinose's reaction. It seemed that ever since I made that joke about kissing her for a whole minute, she had been careful not to say anything that would lead to her being teased.
Mission failed, Ichinose.
"If you say so..."
"You're mean, Ayanokōji-kun!"
"Relax, I was just baiting you," I replied, enjoying Ichinose's flustered reaction.
Ichinose turned her head away from me, trying to hide her embarrassment. "You shouldn't tease people like that," she scolded, though her tone remained light-hearted.
"I promise I'll behave next time."
Ichinose rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face showed that she wasn't really upset. "You better," she warned playfully.
"My dorm room number is 4-01, by the way," I said, turning my head to the pink-haired girl, who nodded. "Feel free to come over whenever you want."
Ichinose's cheeks flushed again, but she maintained her composure this time. "Thanks, Ayanokōji-kun. I'll keep that in mind," she replied, giving me a small smile. "But don't expect me to bring you any snacks, okay?"
If I were like Ike or Yamauchi, I would have told Ichinose that she would suffice as a snack.
She was lucky that I didn't plan to become a social outcast.
The bell suddenly rang, signaling that we were running out of time before our classes began. Ichinose's eyes widened in surprise, and she glanced at the clock on the wall. "Oh no, we're going to be late! We better hurry!"
"Right, let's go," I agreed, and we began walking briskly to our respective classrooms. As we walked, I couldn't help but appreciate the light-hearted conversation I had just shared with Ichinose. It was a pleasant contrast to the tense interactions I'd experienced earlier.
As we reached the hallway intersection where our paths would diverge, Ichinose flashed me another bright smile. "Good luck with your classes today, Ayanokōji-kun!"
"Good luck with your classes as well, Ichinose," I replied, nodding my head at the pink-haired girl. "Don't tell Yuki I invited you into my room, alright?"
"Ayanokōji-kun!" Ichinose scolded playfully, but there was a twinkle in her eye that showed she found my teasing amusing. "Well... I won't say anything if you promise not to tease me like that again."
"Ah, I can't promise that," I replied in amusement. "You have adorable reactions when you get teased."
Ichinose let out a small squeak at my comment, her face turning an even deeper shade of pink. "Y-you're so mean, Ayanokōji-kun," she stuttered, trying to hide her embarrassment.
That just proves my point, Ichinose.
Seeing a bubbly, energetic, and outgoing girl like you get flustered over some teasing really was entertaining.
Ichinose shook her head, still blushing. "You're impossible, Ayanokōji-kun. See you later!"
"See you later, Ichinose," I said, watching as she walked away before turning to make my way to my own classroom.
As I entered the classroom, I noticed that Yuki had already arrived and was chatting with Mori, Chiaki, and Karuizawa. I couldn't help but be amused as I recalled my conversation with Ichinose. No doubt Yuki would have a field day if she knew about it.
But it wasn't like I had any ulterior motives; I just enjoyed teasing the ever-enthusiastic Ichinose.
"Kiyotaka!" Yuki called out, waving her hand.
I made my way toward the group, giving them a slight nod in greeting. "What's up?"
"Really? That's all you're going to say, Kiyotaka-kun?" Chiaki chimed in, her tone dry and sarcastic. "No 'good afternoon' or 'how are you all doing today'?"
I raised an eyebrow, amused by Chiaki's comment. "My apologies, Chiaki. Good afternoon, everyone. How are you all doing today?"
"W-What the hell?" Karuizawa giggled. "I don't know about you girls, but I'll take the 'What's up?' Being polite really isn't Ayanokōji-kun's thing."
"That's right. I'm a little hurt, to be honest," I spoke in my default monotonous voice, a stark contrast to my words. "I thought you guys would accept me for what I am."
"And... jokes still aren't your thing either, Ayanokōji-kun," Mori added, shaking her head in amusement.
"It's on you girls for failing to appreciate peak humor."
"Peak humor, my ass," Yuki snorted. "You're lucky I love you, Kiyotaka, or I wouldn't even bother talking to you."
"Hey, me too!" Chiaki chimed in. "I love Kiyotaka-kun even if he's... a Kiyotaka."
I flicked the two girls in their foreheads.
They were being too cheeky.
"Well, I'll go in my seat now. Don't gossip about me, alright?"
"Who, us?" Karuizawa feigned innocence, batting her eyelashes. "We would never gossip about you, Ayanokōji-kun... and your lack of common sense... and your obsession with ice cream... and your..."
It seemed that being friends with Yuki and Chiaki really did wonders for Karuizawa's confidence. But they might have made her too cheeky.
And with that...
I flicked Karuizawa on her forehead.
"Since Yōsuke's too much of a wuss to do this, I'll do it for him."
The group laughed as Karuizawa pouted, rubbing her forehead. "Ah mou~! You guys are so mean!" she whined, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Courage has consequences," I replied before heading to my seat, shaking my head in amusement as I overheard Karuizawa whining about me being 'mean.'
As I settled in my seat, I heard Horikita's voice.
"So you're obsessed with ice cream?" She asked, closing her book.
I turned to face her, a smile playing at the corners of my mouth. "I wouldn't say obsessed, but I do enjoy it. Why, are you planning on making me some homemade ice cream?"
Horikita clicked her tongue in annoyance. "As if."
"You're not wife material then."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean, I always thought that a wife should be able to cook well," I explained. "But if you can't make me some homemade ice cream, I guess you're not qualified for the job."
"I don't recall applying for the position," Horikita retorted, crossing her arms.
"Horikita-senpai sent me an application form on your behalf," I teased the dark-haired girl, leading her to glare at me. "Quite the assertive guy, that one."
Well... he didn't. But if Horikita Manabu knew that such a thing existed, he'd probably send an application on his sister's behalf.
Last night was more than enough proof that he was supportive of the idea.
"Shut up."
"But since you mentioned ice cream, I'll make you a deal. I'll make your favorite food if you make me ice cream. What do you think?"
Horikita narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously. "What's the catch?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Catch? It's just food, Horikita. No strings attached. Unless you're one of those people who buys someone a meal, only to expect a favor in return. Despicable behavior, if you ask me."
"N-no," Horikita replied, turning away from me. "I'm not like that."
I studied her for a moment, then shook my head in amusement.
Horikita Suzune was exactly that type of person.
End of Chapter
A/N: Since the last 2 chapters had heavy endings, I decided to have a more light-hearted end with this one... although it wasn't exactly a light-hearted chapter.
Kiyotaka's manipulation once again showed itself in how he handled Yuki and Kiriyama. But, as you guys had noticed, there were different rationales... Kiyotaka manipulated Yuki in a twisted ploy to make her realize what he wanted from her, and Kiyotaka manipulated Kiriyama so that he could get a reliable piece that would serve as his decoy in the meantime.
Both aren't right, but in Kiyotaka's mind, these were necessary and logical actions to get the desired results.
That being said, Chiaki definitely deserved a kiss for the good job that she did with Kushida, which somehow allowed her to keep herself together to some extent.
As for Kiriyama, this would be more of a long-term arrangement as it would really be impossible to take down Nagumo, but it would be possible to put some chink in his armor, which is exactly what Kiyotaka was going for here. Aside from that, I think that Kiyotaka would prefer to take a behind-the-scenes approach with his plan to play with Nagumo, as he doesn't really look like a guy who'd willingly play in the open.
Honami got some screentime as she hadn't appeared in the last 4 chapters, and it was time to bring her in and show readers some development in her friendship with Kiyotaka.
Also... Fūka isn't going to be a love interest here. Yuki, in this story, is essentially how Reddit hyped Fūka to be (+ the Yandere-ness), so there's really no need for her to be part of the main cast.
That said, the heavy stuff will find its conclusion in Chapter 15, with a couple of parts in the chapter being told in Kushida's POV as she narrates how she felt upon seeing Yuki, the overall plan, and doing what she was told. I figured this was the best way to close the arc.
And in Chapter 16, we'll deal with the midterm examinations.
See you in the next chapter!